Miami Beach artist pleads guilty to wildlife smuggling

One of the sculptures by Enrique Gomez de Molina called "Cherub," gthatincorporated imported or protected wildlife in this case it was a Sacred Ibis skull and advertised to contain a civet tail. (ROBYN BECK, AFP/Getty Images / May 9, 2010)

A Miami Beach artist pleaded guilty to trafficking in protected wildlife Tuesday, after federal prosecutors accused him of importing a vast range of animal parts for use in bizarre sculptures that sold for up to $80,000.

Enrique Gomez De Molina bought orangutan skulls, a king cobra, a slow loris, a woolly stork, skulls of heavy-beaked birds called hornbills, a rare bird called the Himalayan Monal and many other protected species, according to court papers filed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. He imported them from China, Indonesia, Bali, Thailand and the Philippines

One work called I Am Walrus, consisting of jewel beetle wings, swordfish, polyester, oil, glass, wood and foam, sold to a Kentucky museum for $25,000. Another work called Rhinoplasty, a work covered in beetle fore wings imported from Thailand, sold for $80,000 to a Canadian buyer at Art Basel, according to court papers.

Under an international treaty that strictly regulates the wildlife trade, protected animals or animal parts may not be imported without a permit from the country of origin and declarations to U.S. Customs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

De Molina evaded these requirements and knew he was breaking the law, asking senders to wrap the animal parts in carbon paper to conceal the contents.

Sentencing has been scheduled for March 2 before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. De Molina He faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.